What local moms don't want for Mother's Day

For weeks, commercials and other advertisements have been telling moms what makes the perfect Mother's Day. According to the media, moms want new clothes, new appliances, chocolate, flowers and /or lots of pampering. But is this really what moms want for Mother's Day?

And what about what they don't want?

Melissa Granger has one son, Michael, who is 7, and she finds it humorous how many people have suggested every year since her son's birth that she deserves a "nap" or "peace and quiet" for Mother's Day.

"I didn't have my son until I was 38. I had plenty of time to sleep in and laze around on a Sunday," she says. "That's the last thing I want now."

Granger says her son is growing up so quickly, and that she already spends so much time away from him because of work and school, that all she really wants is to be with him, doing something that he really enjoys.

Mother's Day, for Granger, is not about something special for herself – and that's exactly how she wants it.

"This sounds super corny, but when he's having fun, I get an incredible feeling of happiness and purpose," she says. "So I'm thinking the playground or Monkey Joe's or 'The Three Stooges' movie on Sunday. Whatever he wants to do."

Catherine Hellman, who has three daughters under the age of 10, says her husband bought her chocolate from the girls for multiple Mother's Days before she finally broke the news to him that she doesn't really like chocolate.

"I know, it sounds crazy: a woman who doesn't like chocolate, but I've never really been a big fan. If I'm going to indulge in something sweet and fattening, I'll take a cheesecake or a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting," she says. "Or skip the dessert altogether and just give me a really dark beer."

Laura Hoffman Stratte has two kids, ages 9 and 6, and she says she does not want expensive jewelry or large gifts.

Stratte likes to go to Mexican restaurants with her family– along with her mom and her sisters and their families – because they are inexpensive, fun and usually not very crowded.

"I'm not a brunch person and believe it or not, Mexican restaurants are not the go-to places for Mother's Day lunches, so they are pretty much empty and we have the whole place to ourselves," she says.

What Stratte does want, however, is a little recognition from her husband. She says it's not a big deal, but when she thinks about it, a little "thanks for all you do" would go a long way with her.

"I don't expect much from my kids, other than a homemade card or picture and their love and hugs. But I kind of feel that I should get something from my husband like 'Thanks for mothering my children and doing all of the things a mom does that I don't even realize: making sure the kids have wellness checks at the doctor's, making sure their lunches are made and have clothes to wear, making sure school/camp registration paperwork is filled out on time, doing all of the babysitting arrangements, etc.," she says.

So what about a household with two moms? Denise Cawley and her wife, Anne, have a son together. They haven't spent time figuring out what they don't want for Other's Day, rather just figuring out how they want to celebrate it based on the structure of their family.

"There is no dad to go out and monitor the Mother's Day activities. Are we supposed to go and do for the other mother? What is the protocol?" asks Cawley.

The couple decided to celebrate Mother's Day in different ways, depending on the year, with no hard or fast rules. On their first Mother's Day, they wrote and delivered the readings at their church and their son was welcomed by the congregation. The following year they celebrated by going to The Pfister Hotel overnight.

"Both of those were the best. One celebrating motherhood in a big way with all our family and friends. The other awesome because we were alone. Just two moms celebrating by painting our toe nails, watching SVU reruns and having intimate time, too," says Cawley.

Makayla Harris is 100 percent clear on what she doesn't want for Mother's Day.

"Every year since my oldest was 3, I have asked for one thing for Mother's Day and that's an entire day without any whining," says Harris. "Most years, it's worked. Maybe I'll ask for a week without whining this year."

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